Ballpoint pen containing a number of different colored cartridges

ABSTRACT

A writing instrument, particularly a ballpoint pen containing a number of different colored writing cartridges, each of which is equipped with a pushbutton for advancing the associated cartridge while compressing its return spring. Each pushbutton extends out of the housing sleeve member of the ballpoint pen and both in its writing position as well as in its inoperable position bears against a mechanism which is locked by means of at least one projection in the ballpoint pen housing sleeve member, this projection being situated in an opening, the axis of which extends substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the ballpoint pen. According to important aspects of the invention, the lock mechanism is equipped at its lower end with an apertured plate member through which pass the writing cartridges and which serves as a support means for each return spring member provided for each writing cartridge. Furthermore, the above-mentioned mechanism includes web members which extend vertically from the apertured plate member and which are connected with one another at their upper end, one such web member carrying the aforementioned projection. Additionally, these web members possess groove means for locking a pushbutton both in its writing position as well as in its inoperable position, the lower end of such groove means having two respective oppositely situated inclined surfaces. Each pushbutton is provided at its inner side with two projections which cooperate with the projections provided at the other pushbutton during actuation of the lastmentioned pushbutton in order to entrain the first-mentioned pushbutton. Additionally, each pushbutton is equipped at its lower end with a tail portion capable of being connected with the associated writing cartridge and at its upper end with two nose members, the upper and lower ends of which are inclined in order to lock such pushbutton when the nose members are located in the groove means and for unlocking such pushbutton when such nose members slide past the inclined surfaces.

United States Patent [54] BALLPOINT PEN CONTAINING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENTCOLORED CARTRIDGES 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 401/31 [51] Int. Cl B43k 27/00 [50] Field of Search 401/31[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3, l 70,440 2/1965 Levoin401/31 3,170,441 2/1965 Levoin 401/31 Primary Examinerl-larland S.Skogquist Attomey-Werner W. Kleeman ABSTRACT: A writing instrument,particularly a ballpoint pen containing a number of different coloredwriting cartridges, each of which is equipped with a pushbutton foradvancing the associated cartridge while compressing its return spring.Each pushbutton extends out of the housing sleeve member of theballpoint pen and both in its writing position as well as in itsinoperable position bears against a mechanism which is locked by meansof at least one projection in the ballpoint pen housing sleeve member,this projection being situated in an opening, the axis of which extendssubstantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the ballpoint pen.According to important aspects of the invention, the lock mechanism isequipped at its lower end with an apertured plate member through whichpass the writing cartridges and which serves as a support means for eachreturn spring member provided for each writing cartridge. Furthermore,the above-mentioned mechanism includes web members which extendvertically from the apertured plate member and which are connected withone another at their upper end, one such web member carrying theaforementioned projection. Additionally, these web members possessgroove means for locking a pushbutton both in its writing position aswell as in its inoperable position, the lower end of such groove meanshaving two respective oppositely situated inclined surfaces. Eachpushbutton is provided at its inner side' with two projections whichcooperate with the projections provided at the other pushbutton duringactuation of the last-mentioned pushbutton in order to entrain thefirst-mentioned pushbutton. Additionally, each pushbutton is equipped atits lower end with a tail portion capable of being connected with theassociated writing cartridge and at its upper end with two nose members,the upper and lower ends of which are inclined in order to lock suchpushbutton when the nose members are located in the groove means and forunlocking such pushbutton when such nose members slide past the inclinedsurfaces.

PATENTEDSEPMIBI; 3,604,816

SHEET 2 BF 2 INV ENT OR Fun/cm lira/ v ATTORNEY BALLPOINT PEN CONTAININGA NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COLORED CARTRIDGES BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates broadly to writing instrumentsand, more specifically, deals with a new and improved ballpoint pencontaining a number of different colored writing cartridges.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improvedwriting instrument which is relatively simple in construction, easy tooperate, and insures for selective positioning in reliable fashion ofone of a number of different colored writing cartridges.

Another specific object of the present invention relates to an improvedballpoint writing instrument which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, extremely reliable in operation, not readily subject tobreakdown, and positively affords the locking and unlocking of one of anumber of writing cartridges in selected writing or inoperable position,as desired.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the inventive writing instrument, especially a ballpoint pen,will be seen to comprise a housing sleeve member containing a number ofdifferent colored writing cartridges displaceably mounted therein.Return spring means are provided for each writing cartridge to retractsame into its inoperable position. A respective pushbutton serves toadvance each writing cartridge into its writing position whilecompressing the return spring means. A mechanism including at least oneprojection for lockingly engaging with the housing sleeve member isprovided, this housing sleeve member having an opening for receivingsuch projection, with the axis of such opening extending substantiallyperpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the ballpoint pen. Eachpushbutton extends out of the housing sleeve member and both in itswriting position as well as its inoperable position is supported by theaforementioned mechanism. Such mechanism further incorporates asapertured plate member at its lower end for throughpassage of thewriting cartridges, this apertured plate member providing support meansfor the return spring means. Furthermore, the aforesaid mechanismadditionally includes substantially vertically extending web memberswhich are interconnected with one another at their upper ends, one ofthe vertically extending members being equipped with aforementionedprojection. Such vertically extending members further have groove meansfor locking the pushbuttons both in their writing position as well astheir inoperable position, and the lower end of such groove meanspossess two respective oppositely situated inclined surfaces. Eachpushbutton possesses an inner surface equipped with two projection meanswhich cooperate with the projection means of the other pushbutton duringactuation of the latter in order to entrain the first pushbutton, witheach pushbutton further possessing at its lower end a tail portioncapable of being connected with the associated writing cartridge and atits upper end with two nose members, the upper and lower ends of whichare inclined in order to lock such pushbutton when said nose members arelocated in the groove means and to unlock such pushbutton when said nosemembers slide past the inclined surfaces.

An embodiment of inventive ballpoint pen containing two colored writingcartridges is illustrated in the drawings, wherein this embodimentpossesses a minimum of components and is equipped with a lockingprojection which renders superfluous a threading and makes manufactureof the writing instrument cheaper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent, when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view through the preferred embodimentof inventive ballpoint pen with the one pushbutton in its writingposition and which is arranged behind the component forming the lockedmechanism;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ballpoint pen shown inFIG. 1 and depicting the two pushbuttons, and taken substantially alongthe line A-B thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the locking component or portion;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the locking component depicted in FIG. 3,taken substantially along the line C-D thereof;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the inside surface of a pushbutton used in theinventive writing instrument;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pushbutton;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pushbutton of FIG. 6, takensubstantially along the line E-F thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail of a portion of the ballpoint pen deviceshown in FIG. 2 for unlocking a pushbutton.

Describing now the drawing, the exemplary embodiment of inventivewriting instrument, especially ballpoint pen, depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2will be seen to contain two writing cartridges l6 and 22 which passthrough an apertured plate member 13, each writing cartridge 16 and 22being surrounded by a return spring 17 and 21, respectively, which actsupon the associated pushbutton 15 and 5, respectively. Since bothpushbuttons 5 and 15 are essentially similar in construction, referencewill be made to the description of the pushbutton 5 hereinafter. It willbe seen that projections 8 and 9 provided at such pushbutton 5 travel inan opening 32 formed by vertically extending web members 11, 12, 4 and28. One nose member of such pushbutton 5 is located in a recessedportion in the web 4 and bears against same. The section through theother nose member 35 clearly shows the recessed portion 26 as well asthe inclined lower surfaces 6 and 27 of such recesses.

The web members 11 and 12 which extend from the apertured plate member13 are connected at their upper ends by means of the crossbar or yoke 30which provides a hearing or support surface 29 for the projections ofboth pushbuttons 5 and 15. The web members 4 and 28, upon which slidethe projection members of the pushbuttons 5 and 15 up to their recessedportions, are located in a cap member 2 forming part of the housing ofthe ballpoint pen. In fact it should be observed that the housing sleevemember for the ballpoint pen consists of two components 1 and 2, andthat the mechanism incorporating the web members 11, 12, 4 and 28 isintroduced into the upper housing portion 2 which forms such cap member,the latter of which is threaded to the lower sleeve portion 1.

Continuing, it will be observed that the vertically extending web member11 is provided with a projection 7 which engages in an opening 10provided at the housing sleeve member I, this opening 10 having an axisextending substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extending axisof the writing instrument. Furthermore, opening 10 anchors the lockingmechanism 11, 12, 4 and 28 to the sleeve member 1.

FIG. 2 shows the right-hand pushbutton 15 in its inoperable position,with the projection member 14 thereof bearing against the contact orbearing surface 29 of the yoke or crossbar 30. In order to reinforcethis crossbar or yoke 30 such is provided with the flanges 31. Thispushbutton 15 is disposed above its associated writing cartridge 16which is equipped with the return spring member 17 and passes throughthe opening 18 of the apertured plate member 13.

The writing cartridge 22 which appears at the left-hand side of FIG. 2illustration, in its writing position, will be seen to pass through theopening 19 provided at the apertured plate member 13 and is connectedwith the associated pushbutton 5 via the tail portion 20 situated at thelower end of such pushbutton.

The sectional view taken along the line A-B of FIG. 1, and depicted inFIG. 2, shows the region of the web member 4 against which the nosemember 23 of the pushbutton 5 bears in its writing position as well asalso the upper, inclined end 3 of the web member 11 having the inclinedsurfaces 6 and 25, these surfaces 6, 25 being located beneath theinclined underside or face 24 of the nose member 23 belonging to thepushbutton 5.

Furthermore, it will be observed that the projections 14 and 18 of thepushbuttons 15 and 5, respectively, are arranged above one another inorder to facilitate entrainment of the pushbutton during the downwardmovement of the pushbutton 15. also by FIG. 3 shows details of themechanism serving to lock the pushbuttons, and which is fixedly mountedin the housing 1, 2 of the ballpoint pen by means of the associatedprojection 7. The previously mentioned opening is bounded by the webmembers 11 and 12 depending from the apertured plate member 13 and alsoby the upper situated yoke or crossbar 30. The support surface 29 of thecrossbar or yoke 30 interconnects the webs 4 and 28 in which there arelocated the recesses 33 and 26 with their inclined surfaces 6 and 27.

By referring to FIG. 4 it will be observed that the vertically extendingweb member 12 possesses a conical upper end with inclined surfaces 27and 34. The recessed portion 26 for receiving the nose means of theassociated pushbutton is located above the web member 28 serving as asliding track for the pushbutton.

As best observed by referring to FIG. 6, the interior of the pushbuttonhas a tail portion 20 at its lower end which provides the connectionwith the associated writing cartridge. At the upper end of thepushbutton there is located the previously mentioned nose member 23 aswell as the oppositely situatednose member 35. Both nose members 23'and35 have the inclined portions or surfaces 24 and 36, respectively.

The principle of unlocking a pushbutton, for instance the pushbutton 5,during the downward movement of the other pushbutton 15 can best berecognized by referring to FIG. 8. The riose member 23 bears against theinclined surface of the upper end 3 of the web member 11 and slides uponsame. The movement is triggered by the projection member 14 of the otherpushbutton 15 which bears against the projection member 8.

In order to place a writing cartridge in its writing position, it issufficient to downwardly press with the thumb the desired pushbutton.The lateral nose members slide over the slide tracks of the componentforming the locking mechanism, until they are located in front of therecesses. Under the pressure of the finger the pushbutton moves in thedirection of the lengthwise axis of the writing instrument and, thus,places this projection member under that of the nonused pushbutton.Under the action of the spring means the lateral nose members bearagainst the upper side of the recesses, and the pushbutton is thuslocked. in order to return the pushbutton into its starting position, itis sufficient to displace the other pushbutton for a certain distance.The projection members of the pushbutton which is moving likewise placethe locked pushbutton into motion in that they bear against theseprojections. The lateral nose members slide upon the lower and inclinedends of the recesses, whereby the pushbutton is returned into itsstarting axis. Under the action of the spring member, it thereafterreturns into its starting position. In order to change the color, theother pushbutton is now downwardly pressed over its entire path untilthe nose members are located opposite the recesses.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What I claim is:

l. A ballpoint pen comprising a housing sleeve member, a plurality ofdifferent colored writing cartridges displaceably mounted in saidhousing sleeve member, return spring means for each writing cartridge toretract same into its inoperable position, a respective pushbutton foradvancing each cartridge into its writing position while compressingsaid return spring means, mechanism including at least one projectionfor lockingly engaging with said housing sleeve member, said housingsleeve member having an opening for receiving said projection, with theaxis of said opening extending substantially perpendicular to thelengthwise axis of the ballpoint pen, I

each pushbutton extending out of said housing sleeve member and both inits writing position as well as its inoperable position being supportedby said mechanism, said mechanism incorporating an apertured platemember at its lower end for throughpassagc of said writing cartridges,said apertured plate member providing support means for said returnspring means, said mechanism further including substantially verticallyextending web members interconnected with one another at their upperend, one of said vertically extending web members being equipped withsaid projection, said vertically extending web members having groovemeans for locking said pushbuttons both in their writing position aswell as their inoperable position, the lower end of said groove meanspossessing two respective oppositely situated inclined surfaces, eachsuch pushbutton having an inner surface provided with two projectionmeans which cooperate with the projection means of the other pushbuttonduring actuation of the latter in order to entrain the first pushbutton,each pushbutton further possessing at its lower end a tail portioncapable of being connected with its associated cartridge and at itsupper end with two nose members, the upper and lower ends of which areinclined in order to lock such pushbutton when said nose members arelocated in said groove means and to unlock such pushbutton when saidnose members slide past said inclined surfaces.

2. A ballpoint pen as defined in claim 1, wherein said mechanism isequipped with a plurality of projections.

3. A ballpoint pen as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing sleevemember is formed of two components defining an upper part and a lowerpart, said mechanism being introduced into said upper part which forms acap member and which is threaded with said lower part.

1. A ballpoint pen comprising a housing sleeve member, a plurality ofdifferent colored writing cartridges displaceably mounted in saidhousing sleeve member, return spring means for each writing cartridge toretract same into its inoperable position, a respective pushbutton foradvancing each cartridge into its writing position while compressingsaid return spring means, mechanism including at least one projectionfor lockingly engaging with said housing sleeve member, said housingsleeve member having an opening for receiving said projection, with theaxis of said opening extending substantially perpendicular to thelengthwise axis of the ballpoint pen, each pushbutton extending out ofsaid housing sleeve member and both in its writing position as well asits inoperable position being supported by said mechanism, saidmechanism incorporating an apertured plate member at its lower end forthroughpassage of said writing cartridges, said apertured plate memberproviding support means for said return spring means, said mechanismfurther including substantially vertically extending web membersinterconnected with one another at their upper end, one of saidvertically extending web members being equipped with said projection,said vertically extending web members having groove means for lockingsaid pushbuttons both in their writing position as well as theirinoperable position, the lower end of said groove means possessing tworespective oppositely situated inclined surfaces, each such pushbuttonhaving an inner surface provided with two projection means whichcooperate with the projection means of the other pushbutton duringactuation of the latter in order to entrain the first pushbutton, eachpushbuTton further possessing at its lower end a tail portion capable ofbeing connected with its associated cartridge and at its upper end withtwo nose members, the upper and lower ends of which are inclined inorder to lock such pushbutton when said nose members are located in saidgroove means and to unlock such pushbutton when said nose members slidepast said inclined surfaces.
 2. A ballpoint pen as defined in claim 1,wherein said mechanism is equipped with a plurality of projections.
 3. Aballpoint pen as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing sleeve memberis formed of two components defining an upper part and a lower part,said mechanism being introduced into said upper part which forms a capmember and which is threaded with said lower part.